On Saturday, former President Donald Trump stated that he anticipates being apprehended in relation to a long-term investigation concerning a concealed payment plan connected to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He also encouraged his supporters to protest against any such action. Trump referred to himself in a social media post, stating that the “top Republican candidate and former President of the United States” will be arrested next Tuesday. He did not explain why he thinks he will be arrested. His team mentioned that they have not received any notifications from the prosecutors after Trump’s post.
Law enforcement agencies at the city, state, and federal level in New York City have been conducting meetings all week to plan for security in anticipation of a potential indictment of Trump.
Trump issued a call to action on Saturday, urging his supporters to protest and take back the nation, reminiscent of his previous appeals to supporters after the 2020 presidential election.
According to multiple sources who were briefed on the matter, the former president has been pushing his team to stir up his base and thinks that being indicted would benefit him politically.
If the former president, who plans to run for re-election in 2024, is indicted, it would be an unprecedented event that would rapidly shift the political discourse surrounding him, given that he is already a controversial figure. Despite having a long history of being involved in civil lawsuits both prior to and after serving as president, being criminally charged would be a significant increase in his legal problems as he tries to regain the presidency.
According to a source with knowledge of the investigation, another witness is expected to give testimony on Monday in front of the grand jury that is examining the hush money payments. It is unclear whether this will be the last witness before the grand jury decides on whether to indict someone.
Trump’s legal team has been preparing for the possibility of an indictment, as they believe it could happen soon. However, Joe Tacopina, one of Trump’s attorneys, stated that the former president’s claims are based on news reports because they have not been informed of any updates about the investigation.
In response to the reports, a spokesperson for Trump clarified that he has not received any notification from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office regarding a possible indictment, but he is asserting his innocence in his public statements.